Introduction:
Plastic surgery is a well-known field that improves people's physical appearance and self-confidence. However, it is critical to address plastic surgery's possible hazards and difficulties, especially for people suffering from body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Body dysmorphic disorder is a mental illness defined by an obsession or preoccupation with a slight or imaginary fault in one's physical appearance. While it affects approximately one to two percent of the general population, studies have indicated that the prevalence of body dysmorphic disorder is much higher among people considering plastic surgery.
What Are the Reasons for Seeking Cosmetic Treatments for Patients With Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Individuals suffering from body dysmorphic disorder may seek cosmetic treatments to address their appearance issues and lessen body dissatisfaction. People feel that by changing their physical appearance, they may be able to cure their perceived defects and, as a result, their pain. It is crucial to note that aesthetic procedures rarely significantly reduce body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. According to studies, most people with body dysmorphic disorder continue to be dissatisfied with their looks after cosmetic treatments, and in some situations, their concerns about their appearance intensify.
What Are the Types of Cosmetic Treatments Pursued by Patients With Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Cosmetic surgery is one of the most popular therapies among people with body dysmorphic disorder. According to studies, 26 to 40 percent of people with body dysmorphic disorder seek cosmetic surgery, with rhinoplasty being one of the most popular treatments. Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder frequently have nose preoccupations, and research indicates that about 21 percent of patients seeking rhinoplasty match the criteria for body dysmorphic disorder.
Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder seek out additional aesthetic procedures, such as dermatological treatments, dental interventions, and cosmetic surgery. Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder are preoccupied with skin issues, causing them to seek therapy from dermatologists for procedures such as chemical peels, nonablative lasers, and fillers. Further studies have revealed that aesthetic dermatology circumstances have a larger percentage of body dysmorphic disorder patients than general dermatological circumstances.
How Do Cosmetic Treatments Impact Patients With Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Unlike people with body dysmorphic disorder's hopes and expectations, cosmetic treatments rarely provide long-term comfort from their appearance worries. According to research, most people with body dysmorphic disorder who receive cosmetic surgery see little to no improvement in the intensity of their symptoms. Only a small fraction, about 2.3 percent, sees long-term improvement in overall body dysmorphic disorder symptoms after surgical or minimally invasive procedures.
Furthermore, some data suggests cosmetic procedures may aggravate body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. Clinical observations have revealed that appearance concerns may extend to other body parts after cosmetic treatments, causing distress and dissatisfaction. Individuals suffering from body dysmorphic disorder should be informed of these potential implications and investigate alternate treatments that address the underlying psychological disorders linked to their disease.
How Do Suicidality and Violent Behavior Relate to Patients With Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
One of the most problematic elements of body dysmorphic disorder is its link to suicidality and violent behavior. Suicidal thoughts and attempts are common among people suffering from body dysmorphic disorder. While there is no direct link between aesthetic procedures and suicidality in people with body dysmorphic disorder, studies on women who have had breast augmentation have reported increased rates of suicide when compared to the general population.
Both patients and healthcare practitioners must be aware of these concerns and emphasize the mental health of those with body dysmorphic disorder. Furthermore, violent behavior toward healthcare workers who provide aesthetic treatments is more likely. Some people with body dysmorphic disorder may become angry or threatening, particularly if disappointed with their operations' results. Before performing cosmetic procedures on patients, healthcare practitioners must be cautious when choosing and considering their psychological state.
How to Screen for Patients With Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
A comprehensive history is the first screening technique for a surgeon to identify body dysmorphic disorder. Excessive requests for aesthetic surgery, dissatisfaction with previous surgeries, expectations that surgery will fix all of their issues, concern with one defect, psychiatric history, unusual motivation for surgery, or demanding behaviors can all help the aesthetic plastic surgeon identify patients suffering from body dysmorphic disorder. Structured questionnaires investigating motivation for surgery or evaluation by a mental health expert before any intervention are other techniques available to surgeons.
What Are the Risks of Operating on a Body Dysmorphic Disorder Patient?
Body dysmorphic disorder has long been regarded as a contraindication to cosmetic surgery, with two-thirds of dermatologic surgeons claiming it is a body image issue. However, psychological issues should be treated first, as surgical surgery without first treating psychological disorders might have severe or even fatal implications. Dissatisfied patients may seek vengeance against the surgeon, which could lead to lawsuits, physical assaults, or even murder. According to studies, 2% of plastic surgeons have been physically threatened by a body dysmorphic disorder patient, and 10% have received threats of violence and legal action. Three plastic surgeons have been murdered since 1991 by individuals with body dysmorphic disorder who were dissatisfied with their surgery outcomes.
What Are the Treatment Recommendations for Patients With Body Dysmorphic Disorder?
Given the limited effectiveness of cosmetic therapies in alleviating body dysmorphic disorder symptoms, it is critical to look into other therapy approaches that address the disorder's underlying psychological concerns. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs) and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) are evidence-based therapies for body dysmorphic disorder. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), routinely used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, have demonstrated promise in lowering body dysmorphic disorder symptoms and increasing general functioning. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), on the other hand, is concerned with correcting erroneous ideas and behaviors connected to body image and appearance. Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder can build healthy coping mechanisms and enhance their quality of life by addressing the underlying cognitive and behavioral problems.
Conclusion:
Plastic surgery can be useful for people who want to improve their physical appearance and boost their self-esteem. However, it is critical to understand cosmetic treatments' potential hazards and limitations, especially for people with body dysmorphic disorder. The frequency of body dysmorphic disorder among patients considering cosmetic surgery emphasizes the importance of comprehensive assessments and proper referrals to mental health providers. Healthcare providers can provide complete care for people with body dysmorphic disorder, ensuring their long-term pleasure and well-being by prioritizing patients' mental well-being and researching evidence-based treatments.
